Interim Hearts of Oak coach, Yaw Preko, has urged fans of the Phobian club to stay calm and be patient following the demotion of acting head coach Sergio Traguil to the junior side.

Management of the club on Tuesday August 30 communicated the demotion of the Portuguese trainer to Auroras (Under 20).

Hearts of Oak sit fourth on the league log with six points behind league leaders Wa All Stars with three matches to end the season. Fans of the club have expressed their frustration with the team after their inability to win the league trophy in seven years.

But speaking to Class Sports’ Desmond Decker, Yaw Preko said: “They should be patient. I understand their feelings. You get frustrated when there is a trophy and, like in a penalty shootout in a cup final, just go and put the ball at the back of the net for your team and it does not go your way. This is part of football and I know how they feel and I have been there before."

Yaw Preko, who was acting as the assistant coach of the side, will now take charge of the remaining three games in the GPL before a substantive coach is named.